Scott Woodruff answers questions and assists members regarding legal issues in Maine. He and his wife homeschooled their children. Read more >>

Child Support Payments Reinstated

Last fall, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services sent a letter to N.R. asking her to “attach verification from the high school” that her son (who was soon to be 18) would continue to be enrolled in a full-time high school program until graduation. She wrote back and said that yes, her son was full-time enrolled in a homeschool program for his senior year and expecting to graduate in June.

Without any explanation, the department stopped transmitting child support payments on her son’s 18th birthday. N.R., an HSLDA member, asked us for help.

Home School Legal Defense Association Senior Counsel Scott Woodruff faxed a letter to the department representative explaining that N.R.’s son was enrolled in a lawful program of home instruction under Maine law. Woodruff asked the representative to send N.R. all the missed payments she should have received.

The following day, the department sent N.R. a letter saying they would fix the problem. They subsequently sent N.R. all back payments that were due.